Minister of Justice Bekir
Bozdağ declared that there is an initiation to establish a special prison to
hold prisoners and detainees with alternative sexual orientations. The prison
plan received negative reactions for the reason that it would alienate LGBT
individuals from social life…

The Ministry of Justice has begun the initiation for the
establishment of a special LGBT prison for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual
inmates who are, at the time, held in “pink wards.” Minister of Justice Bekir
Bozdağ declared that the project has begun to build a prison to hold prisoners
and detainees with alternative sexual orientations. This project, which has no
precedent anywhere in the world, was met with criticism for reasons that it
would “alienate LGBT individuals from socializing environments.”

First came the pink wards

Until recently, there were no specific practices to segregate
prisoners or detainees with different sexual orientations. When transvestites
or homosexuals committed a crime and were sent to prison, the prison
administration would consult with the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the
section to place these inmates through the method of “telephone diplomacy.” Due
to some problems, the Ministry performed various changes in prison regulations
and paved the way for the establishment of “pink wards” for inmates with
different sexual orientations. A clause was added to the regulations stating
that “prisoners with alternate sexual orientations would be placed in separate
cells or wards.” This brought about a permanent solution in relation to the
situation of prisoners and detainees with different sexual orientations in
Turkey.

The problems of prisoners and detainees with different sexual
orientations were then addressed through a parliamentary question. CHP
(Republican People’s Party) deputy for Malatya Veli Ağbaba requested from
Minister Bozdağ to reply to his parliamentary question which included the
following: “It is a known fact that LGBT inmates are segregated from other
prisoners for their own safety. Is the Ministry planning to work towards
resolving this problem or will the Ministry turn a blind eye to the de facto isolation of LGBT individuals
in prison?”

“The purpose is to ensure safety”

The Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ replied to the
parliamentary question asserting that this practice was aimed at protecting
individuals with different sexual orientations and at ensuring their safety.
Minister Bozdağ said, “The current planning in penal institutions is geared
towards making sure that prisoners and detainees with different sexual
orientations do not mix with other prisoners and detainees in shared spaces and
during social activities. Also, there is an ongoing project to build a separate
penal institution for prisoners and detainees with different sexual
orientations.” There is no precedent for an LGBT-only prison anywhere in the
world.

There are currently 81
LGBT prisoners or detainees

Sources indicate that, as of the end of 2013, there are 81
individuals who have alternate sexual orientations in various prisons. Their
crimes are varied: “22 are in for homicide, 30 for looting, 14 for theft, 6 for
drugs, 3 for sexual assault, 2 for trespassing, 2 for credit card fraud, 1 for
damaging public property and 1 for bodily harm.”

“The segregation would be
a breach of human rights”

When the Ministry of Justice declared that there was a project
to build a separate prison for LGBT persons, this reignited public conversation
about “discrimination.” Representatives from organizations dedicated to protect
the rights of LGBTI persons have expressed negative reactions. Mustafa Eren,
project coordinator for the Civil Society in the Penal System Foundation (Ceza
İnfaz Sisteminde Sivil Toplum Derneği – CISST) stated: “Wards are segregated at
the moment. The justification for this is “safety.” The envisioned project aims
to completely separate penal institutions. The only justification, once again,
is “safety.” To separate these prisoners and detainees would only exacerbate
the wrong and would result in completely isolating them from social life. This
project would result in stigmatizing both the LGBTI prisoners and their
visitors. In our opinion, this project is unacceptable.”

Fırat Söyle, lawyer for the NGO SPoD (Social Policy, Gender
Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association) declared: “The attempt to
build a ‘homosexuals-only’ prison is akin to segregating Muslims and Christians
in the prison system. It would be a discriminatory practice. Such a project
would entirely defy universal human rights. This practice would result in
transferring some individuals to the new prison. One must take into
consideration if these people are out in their homes or social circles. Perhaps
the new implementation would not be too problematic for those who are out. But
it would work towards exposing the other ones. Also, how is one to decide on
the criteria for being placed in this new institution? Are they going to ask
prisoners or detainees about their sexual orientation before they send them to
prison? LGBTI persons are already being mistreated in prisons. With this new
project, they may be vulnerable to suffer even worse. Building an LGBTI-only
prison would not resolve the problems of LGBTI inmates.”

Project coordinator for CISST and sociologist Mustafa Eren said:
“A separated prison would result in stigma and discrimination. It would
alienate LGBT individuals from social life.”